TOTTINGTON High School has broken ties with the local authority to become an academy.

The school, in Laurel Street, became the borough's second high school to officially become a state-funded independent school when it completed its conversion to academy status yesterday.

It will now be run by the Shaw Education Trust, which already runs Castlebrook High School - the borough's only other secondary school academy.

The trust says that as part of the move, the school will have the opportunity to collaborate with other academies within the trust.

They will also have access to 'teaching school support, a research school and a SCITT, alongside a broad range of supernumerary colleagues from the trust’s central team'.

Brian Duffy, headteacher at Tottington High School, said: “We are focused on improving the outcomes for our pupils, and the support and expertise that Shaw Education Trust can provide us in achieving this is invaluable.

“We feel that now is the right time for us to join the trust, while being able to maintain a good relationship with the local authority.

“Joining the trust enables us to broaden horizons and push pupils' educational landscapes that little bit further, ultimately improving pupils' life outcomes.”

Jo Morgan CEO of the trust added: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Tottington into our family.

"We will continue to work with the school, its leaders and governors to create local capacity to deliver awesome outcomes and bright futures for the youngsters of Bury.”

When it was reported that the school was to become an academy back in May, teachers' unions said the move had left staff in a state of shock — and hit out at what they claimed was a lack of consultation over the school's decision to go down the academy route.